Dysphania ambrosioides
Epazote | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Order: | Caryophyllales |
Family: | Amaranthaceae |
Genus: | Dysphania |
Species: | D. ambrosioides
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Binomial name | |
Dysphania ambrosioides | |
Synonyms[1] | |
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Dysphania ambrosioides, formerly Chenopodium ambrosioides, known as Jesuit's tea, Mexican-tea,[2] payqu (paico), epazote, mastruz, or herba sanctæ Mariæ, is an annual or short-lived perennial herb native to Central America, South America, and southern Mexico.
Growth
Dysphania ambrosioides is an
As well as in its native areas, it is grown in warm
Taxonomy
The species was described in 1753 by Carl Linnaeus as Chenopodium ambrosioides.[4] Some researchers treated it as a highly polymorphic species with several subspecies. Today these are considered as their own species within genus Dysphania (e.g. American wormseed, Chenopodium ambrosioides var. anthelminticum is now accepted as Dysphania anthelmintica).[5][6]
The generic name Dysphania was traditionally applied in the 1930s to some species endemic to Australia. Placement and rank of this taxon have ranged from a mere section within Chenopodium to the sole genus of a separate family, Dysphaniaceae, or a representative of the Illicebraceae. The close affinity of Dysphania to "glandular" species of Chenopodium sensu lato is now evident.[7]
The specific epithet ambrosioides refers to the plant's resemblance to unrelated plants of the genus
Etymology
The common Spanish name epazote (sometimes spelled and pronounced ipasote or ypasote) is derived from the
Usage
Culinary uses
Ideally collected before going to seed, D. ambrosioides is used as a leaf vegetable, herb, and herbal tea[8] for its pungent flavor. Raw, it has a resinous, medicinal pungency, similar to oregano, anise, fennel, or even tarragon, but stronger. The fragrance of D. ambrosioides is strong and unique.[8] A common analogy is to turpentine or creosote. It has also been compared to citrus, savory, and mint.
Although it is traditionally used with
Toxicity
Humans have died from overdoses of D. ambrosioides essential oils (attributed to the ascaridole content). Symptoms include severe gastroenteritis with pain, vomiting, and diarrhea.[9]
Agricultural use
The essential oils of D. ambrosioides contain terpene compounds, some of which have natural pesticide capabilities.[10] The compound ascaridole in epazote inhibits the growth of nearby species, so it is best to grow it at a distance from other plants.[11]
Companion plant
Dysphania ambrosioides not only contains terpene compounds, but it also delivers partial protection to nearby plants simply by masking their scent to some insects, making it a useful
Chemical constituents
Epazote
References
- ^ "Tropicos - Name - Dysphania ambrosioides L." tropicos.org.
- ^ BSBI List 2007 (xls). Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland. Archived from the original (xls) on 2015-06-26. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
- ISBN 0-486-22798-7.
- ^ L. (1753) Species Plantarum, Tomus I: 219.
- ISBN 0-19-517389-9, p. 269.
- ISBN 0-19-517389-9, p. 269.
- ^ "Dysphania in Flora of North America @ efloras.org". efloras.org.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-4930-1499-6.
- ISBN 0715373757.
- S2CID 209596487.
- ^ J. Jimenez-Osorio, Am. J. Bot. 78:139, 1991[full citation needed], cited in Mueller, Cynthia W. (June 2012). "Epazote (Chenopodium ambrosioides)". Aggie Horticulture. Texas A & M University. Retrieved 2013-02-13.
- ^ "Epazote: Organic Peroxides from a Plant". 29 October 2020. Archived from the original on 2021-12-12.
YouTube video name: 'Epazote: Organic Peroxides from a Plant'
- ^ Laferrière, Joseph E. (21 June 1990). "Nutritional and pharmacological properties of yerbaníz, epazote, and Mountain Pima oregano" (PDF). Seedhead News. No. 29. Native Seeds/SEARCH. p. 9.